Twisting mechanism for wrapping machines



July 28, 1931; M. a. FERGUSON 1,315,080

TWISTING MECHANISM FOR WRAPPING MACHINES Filed Nov. 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Kw? 24; X46 6 9/ I 2/0 7 2% I 24 Z47 INVENTOR.

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July 28, 1931. M.-B. FERGUSON 1,316,030

' TWISTING MECHANISM WRAPPING MACHINES Filed Nov. 9. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ia? Z4; f3

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Patented July 28, 1931 UNITED A STATES PATIENT OFFICE I MILFORD B. FERGUSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO PACKAGE MA- cI -INERY compan on sacnusn'rrs SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAS- TWISTING MECHANISM FOR WRAPPING MACHINES utt-e filed November 9, 1929. Serial No. 406,140.

' My present invention relates to twisting mechanism for wrapping machines. The machine to which the improved twisting has been applied is that of my prior Patent 1,484,015, Feb. 19, 1924, to which reference is mad for a complete description of the general construction of the machine and of the manner in which the major wrapping operation is performed. One object ofthe invention is to improve the twisting mechanism of the prior patent so that a smoother and tighter twist can be produced. A further object is to provide a twisting mechanism which will seal theends of the wrapper as it is being twisted. Other and further objects will appear from the following description and claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the wrapping and twisting mechanism; generally corresponding in the position of the parts to Fig. 10 of my prior patent, but looking from the opposite side of the machine and showing the application of my improved twisting mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1'

Fig. 3 is an elevation, looking from the left in Fig. 1 with certain parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a detail section illustrating the action of the twisting mechanism upon the wrapper and Fig. 5 is a perspective View of one of the {twisting fingers.

The same referencenumerals are used in this case as in my prior patent, insofar as 'Over this l-surface lies a flexible tape 15,

mounted so as to have a slight elastic freedom and provided with mechanism periodical ly slackening the tape for the wrapping operation. For the purposeof considering its operation, the tape can be considered ractically stationary. The tape support 17 has an article receiving pocket 24 formed on one side with a yiel ing jaw 26 held by a sprin 27 and limited by a stop pin 28. Rotata le (preferably intermittently) around the stud 18'which supports the stationary member 17 is a cradle 30 having two sets of cross rods, two rods 57 and 58 in each set. One set only is shown in the drawings in the present case.

An article and wrapper having been forced into the pocket 24, so that the tape 15 is caused to partly enclose them, the cradle 30 is rotated so that an anti-friction roll 75 on one of the cross rods 58 passes under the tape and across the pocket as shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 of my prior patent. The tape is' looped almost completely around the article, and as the cradle continues its retating movement the article is caused to roll along the portion of the tape which is supported by the arcuate surface 16, coiling the Wrapper tightly around the article. This portion of the wrapping operation is fully described andillustrated in my prior patent and need not be elaborated further here.

The rolling of the article around the armate surface 16 is utilized'first to roll the wrapper around it as described above. The length of the surface is, however, greater than would be required for this operation, so that an excess rotation is given during which the projectinge ends of the then tubular wrapper are twisted.- The mechanism for producing the twist differs from that de- .bmdescribed in detail.

Mounted on the edges of the stationary curved tape support 17 are arcuate strips. 200. Attached .to each of these strips is a member 201 containing an electrical resistance heating unit 202. Current is supplied to these units through a wire 203 which may for convenience bethreaded through a hole 204: formed in the stationary stud 18. Coacting'with each of the strips 200 are wrapper restraining devices comprising finger carriers 2Q,5 mounted for oscillation upon the cross rods 58 of the rotating cradle 30. There are'two pairs of finger carriers, each comprising a right-hand ,and a left-hand device which are duplicates except for being two fingers 206 and 207, longer, riding respectively mirror images of each other; the two pairs, corresponding to the two cross rods 58 of the cradle, coming. into operation successlvely.

Only one pair, however, operates upon a single confection. Each finger carrler bears on the inside and the outside of a strip 200. I

To swing the fingers into coaction withthe end extensions of a wrapper at a predetermined time in the passage of the article vover the surface of the tape support, each finger carrier is provided with a lug 208 to which is pivoted a twisted link 210 joining it with an arm 211 projecting from the segmental gear 84, illustrated in Fig. 11 of the prior patent. This gear is oscillated intermittently by the same means shown in the prior patent and which, therefore, is not described herein.

The operation of the improved twisting When the article tion while the article rolls, causing a twist.

to he formed in them. Since the fingers lie one on each side of each strip 200, the wrapper is held snugly down against the strips,

' as is clearly shown in Fig. 4. 'Heat from the strips 200 causes the wax in the wrapper to be fused, causing the twisted ends to be sealed when the wax again solidifies, and a tighter twist to be pro-ducedjon account of the lubricating action of the melted wax. -When the article reaches the end of the tape support, the fingers are lifted out of contactwith the wrapper ends and the article is e ected as described in the prior patent.

It will be observed that the strips 200 extend radiallybeyond the arcuate support substantially to the center ofthe article and that the tubular end extensions of the wrapper are pressed by the fingers 206, 207 into bridging relation with these strips. This results in a more centralized position of the wrapper extensions than was the case in the twisting mechanism shown in the earlier patent, in which the wrapper extensions" were held substantially at one side of the article, and results in a much'smoother and tighter twist. The bridging action of the fingers across the strips causes the wrapper extensions to have a maximum of contact with the heated strips, giving the'greatest the latter being article around the arcuate are caused to roll along a support, a heated strip extending above the support at the end of the article, and a device movable with the article and positioned so as to straddle the strip and press the wrapper thereagainst.

2. In a wrapping machine of the type in which an article and an encircling wrapper are caused to roll along a support, a heated strip extending above the support at the end of the article, and a pair of fingers movable with the article and positioned so as to straddle the strip and press the wrapper thereagainst whereby the wrapper will be simultaneously twisted and heat sealed. l

3. In a wrapping machine, port, means for rolling an article and an encircling wrapper over the support, arcuate strips secured to the support at each end of the article and extending radially beyond the support substantially to the middle of. the

article, a pair of fingers located in opposition to each strip and movable to bridge the ends extensions of the wrap or across the strips, means for. heating t e strips, and means for moving the fingers with'the article around said arcuate support.

4. In a wrapping machine, an arcuate support, a tape positioned around the support, a cross bar mounted for rotation about the arcuate support, a roll on the cross bar engageable with the tape to cause rolling of an support, arcuate strips secured to the support at each end of the article and extending radially beyond the support substantially to the middle of the article, electrical resistance units for heating the strips, two pairs offingers, one pair plvotally mounted on the cross bar in opmeans for,

position to each of said strips and rocking the fingers to press the wrapper extensions in bridging relation across the strips, whereby the wrapper extensions will be restrained from rotation as the article rolls and will be heated to fuse the wax with which the wrapper is impregnated. E

In testimony whereof I.have aflixed my signature.

MILFORD B. FERGUSON.

possible heating effect and utilizing the fries tional drag of the strips and fingers to the an arcuate sup-- 

